Chocolate Cut-Out Cookies

This was a fun idea I found on the Our Best Bites site!

You use a gingerbread man cookie cutter and then decorate them into skeletons.  It is an alternative to traditional sugar cookies, especially at Halloween!  We made the skeletons, bats and spiders!  Super spooky fun!!  (and good cookies too!)

Chocolate Cut-Out Cookies

(http://www.ourbestbites.com/)

• 2 1/2 cups flour
• 1/2 cup cocoa powder
• 1 cup (2 sticks) butter
• 1 cup sugar
• 1 egg
• 1 tsp vanilla

Preheat oven to 350 degrees.  Line your baking sheets with parchment paper or use a baking mat if you have one!

Cream butter and sugar together until light and fluffy (1-2 minutes).  Beat in egg and vanilla until combined.

Slowly add your dry ingredients to the butter mixture.  Add your cocoa powder first and then slowly incorporate the flour.  I used all 2 1/2 cups.  Scrape the sides of your bowl as you go.

Lightly dust your surface with flour or cocoa powder and roll your dough out.  It recommends to roll your dough and then place in the refrigerator for 15 minutes.  I didn't put mine in the fridge.  My dough wasn't sticky and I was able to work with it right away!

Cut out shapes and place on your baking sheets.  Bake 8-10 minutes or until set.  Don't over bake!  Just make sure edges look set!

Let your cookies cool on your baking sheet for 2-3 minutes and then place on a cooling rack!

Decorate and enjoy your spooky cookies!